John Kerry's position on

Federal Pell Grant: Pell Grants were established in 1972 through the implementation of the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant. Pell grants are awarded to eligible undergraduate students pursuing their first bachelor's degree and certain student in post-baccalaureate teacher certification programs. Student must have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by the FAFSA of $0-3,850. For the 2004-2005 school year the maximum Pell grant is $4,050. The Pell Grant has attracted attention because of an estimated $3.7 billion shortfall in the program's funding. Kerry's specific policy plans for the Pell program are unclear, but he does favor increasing the maximum. Kerry's campaign rhetoric does not outline a specific plan, but mentions the importance of the availability of higher education.

Description of the candidate's position: John Kerry plans to increase the maximum pell grant and back "super" pell grants, which provide additional assistance to high-ability (top 10 %) and high-need students. Kerry plans to expand assistance in higher education beyond lower-income families (this may not happen through the expansion of Pell, but the development of another program.)

Quotation from the candidate: " Kerry supports increasing the maximum Pell Grant, and would back "super" Pell Grants, which provides additional assistance for eligible students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school class. His plan would increase access to college and make it easier to transition to four-year colleges and universities." (Kerry website). Kerry believes the country should invest in college-bound students, and that four year of a college education should be affordable. He, "has already proposed $25 billion in fiscal aid to states. In addition, he has proposed some $50 billion in tax credits to help Americans afford all four years of college."

Assessment of the proposal: Over ten years John Kerry's plan will cost $88.403 billion. Kerry's education rhetoric and policy lacks an in-depth policy plan for Pell grants. Kerry is supported by the National Education Association (NEA)

Positive: The Pell grant program is helpful for students with a low EFC. He plans to increase the maximum and support "super" Pell grants.

Negative: Pell grants only help low income families. With the cost of college education on the rise (28 % over the last three years), college is becoming unaffordable for middle-class families. His plan does not close the gap between tuition costs and Pell award.

Comparison: Both Bush and Kerry support a slight increase in Pell grants for classified as high-achievement and low-income. Neither candidate express detailed plans for Pell, but outline additional plans for higher education. Kerry details plans for tax credits and a "G.I. Bill of the 21st Century.

Sources:

http://www.finaid.org/educators/history.phtml

http://www.finaid.org/educators/hr4283.phtml

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0413a.html 

http://www.studentaidaction.com/aid.asp?id=650

Empty Promises: The Myth of College Access in America. A Report of the Advisory Committee of Student Financial Assistance. Washington, D.C.: June 2002. http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/emptypromises.pdf

Engen, K. and K. Hassett. An Analysis of the ten year costs of Senator Kerry's Spending Proposals. American Enterprise Institute: August, 2004.

King, J. 2003 Status Report on the Pell Grant Program. American Council on Education Center for Policy Analysis, Washington D.C.: 2003. http://www.acenet.edu/bookstore/pdf/2003_pell_grant.pdf

Robblee, S., Simone Berkowitz and Isabel Sawhill. Education Proposals in the 2004 Campaign: An Early Assessment. Brookings Working Paper. Brookings Institute: Washington, D.C.: June 2004.

Link to Bush's issue page